Halt the Destruction of Khimki Forest

August 26th, 2010 is a historic date for the grassroots protest movement in Russia. That is the day, just one year ago, when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev halted construction of the Moscow to St. Petersburg highway because it would destroy the Khimki Forest, one of the nation's few protected old-growth forests.

His action was forced by a massive outcry of thousands of people who said "no" to more environmental degradation and "no" to the corruption, intimidation, violence and arrests.

Medvedev had promised public and expert hearings on the project. Instead, without public input, he has allowed construction to begin again. Trees are being cut, and protesters in the forest are confronting bulldozers every week.

The shameful company benefiting from this corruption is Vinci, the transnational company based in France that is leading the concession to build the highway.

Please joing us in solidarity as we work to halt construction again and save this forest. Sign the petition, and email us at savekhimkiforest@gmail.com if you can hold a solidarity protest on August 26th, 2011.

We will not give up.-- The Save Khimki Forest Movement

Letter to

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev

I join the Khimki Forest Defenders and ask that you halt construction again of the Moscow to St. Petersburg toll road and protect the forest.

Investigations have shown rampant corruption involved in this deal, and the violence and abuses continue unabated.

Please stick to your promise: stop construction and hold a public debate, with hearings that do not take place behind closed doors.